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High uric acid: a metabolic marker of coronary heart disease among alcohol abstainers

C Iribarren1, D S Sharp, J D Curb

  • 1Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55454, USA.

Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
|June 1, 1996
PubMed

Insights

High serum uric acid is linked to coronary heart disease (CHD) risk, especially in alcohol abstainers. This association becomes nonsignificant after adjusting for confounders, suggesting a complex relationship in cardiovascular health.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular epidemiology
  • Metabolic syndrome research
  • Public health and preventative medicine

Background:

  • Serum uric acid levels have been explored for their potential association with cardiovascular disease.
  • Previous studies suggest a link between hyperuricemia and increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD).
  • The influence of lifestyle factors, such as alcohol consumption, on this association requires further clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the long-term association between serum uric acid levels and the risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD).
  • To examine the impact of potential confounders on the relationship between uric acid and CHD.
  • To explore potential interactions between serum uric acid levels and alcohol consumption status in relation to CHD risk.

Main Methods:

  • A longitudinal study involving 6411 middle-aged Japanese-American men from the Honolulu Heart Program over 21 years.
  • Age-stratified Cox regression models were used to analyze the association between serum uric acid quartiles and CHD incidence.
  • Statistical adjustments were made for various confounders including body mass index, alcohol intake, triglycerides, blood pressure, and diet.

Main Results:

  • Initially, high serum uric acid (quartile 4) showed a significant association with increased definite CHD risk (RR=1.33).
  • After adjusting for confounders, this association was substantially reduced and became statistically nonsignificant (RR=1.14).
  • A significant interaction was observed between serum uric acid and drinking status (P=0.03), with elevated CHD risk seen only in alcohol abstainers (RR=1.40).

Conclusions:

  • Elevated serum uric acid may be associated with a higher risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) specifically among individuals who abstain from alcohol.
  • The initial association between high uric acid and CHD risk is diminished when accounting for common confounding factors.
  • Further research is warranted to determine if elevated uric acid is a causal factor for CHD or a marker of underlying arterial disease in non-drinkers.

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